Brentford manager Keith Andrews has admitted that the Bees should be 'confident’ about putting in a performance against Birmingham City in the second round of the Carabao Cup, but also should not be “arrogant” in overlooking the Championship side.
Andrews' side head into domestic cup action off the back of a sensational 3-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur in the opening weekend of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
“Arrogant” to look past Birmingham despite Brentford’s confidence
Brentford enjoyed a brilliant run in the Carabao Cup last season, losing 2-0 in the quarter-finals to Manchester City. Speaking to VAVEL, Andrews admitted that it would seem silly to look beyond Birmingham when asked about what is needed for another deep cup run.
“First up is Birmingham, I think it's very arrogant to think beyond that, to be honest. I think we've got a really difficult game.”
“We'll be confident, and we should be confident that we can produce a performance, but we'll have to play well to come through, and then what helps after that is maybe a home draw.
“We've had to, we had to go through different ways to get to where we went to last year, but yeah, we're confident where we are, but never, nothing but respectful about the opposition and obviously that starts tomorrow in this competition.”
New signings Wilson and Anthony allow Brentford to play in different ways.
Wilson made his debut for the Bees alongside Anthony at the weekend (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Two of Brentford’s new acquisitions during the summer transfer window came off the bench to make their competitive debut for the Bees, Jaidon Anthony and Callum Wilson.
Alongside adding more goals, Andrews also admitted that it gives Brentford a different way of playing.
“They have settled in really well, and you're right to allude to the goals. That was one part of it for sure.
“We felt, you know, we just were asked about the fullbacks {Kayode and Lewis-Potter} scoring [against Spurs], and I mentioned centre backs. We want more goals from different areas of the pitch, and them two match that.
“The fact that they are Premier League-ready players at different ages, different experiences, but still very hungry to come into our group, settle into our groove and way of doing things, and they've added different ways that we can play.”
St Andrews “will be tough”
Over the past three seasons, Manchester City (five) are the only side in the top four divisions in England to have lost fewer home games across league and domestic cup action than Birmingham (six).
Andrews believed that despite the difference in divisions, it would still be a very difficult evening for the Bees.
“Yeah, for sure, they've obviously been on a really good journey, haven't they, with the promotion and stabilisation, I thought they were, at one stage, looked pretty good to be in the playoffs [last season], the team dropped off a little bit and finished where they finished, but I think they'd be disappointed not to go in, such as the ambition of the club.
“I've been to Saint Andrews on many occasions. It'll be a tough place to go.”
Potential for squad rotation on Tuesday
With a busy few weeks coming up before the first international break, Andrews confirmed that there would be rotation in the squad over the next few weeks, including at Birmingham.
“Yeah, I think the squad will be used already during the course of these games this week and the weeks, right up until the international break, on the 20th September or whatever it is.
“Because exactly what you've just alluded to, we have that depth, we have that quality. So many of the decisions on who's starting are very, very marginal.
“Will there be changes tomorrow? Yes, how many not telling you, obviously, but we have got a really good squad that I'm really, really happy with.
“We're gonna push and keep pushing to try and achieve a really, really good season.”
